Axle-box for street-cars



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. G. BASSETT, AXLE BOX FOR STREET CARS. No. 471,089. Patented Mar. 22,1892.

(No Modl.)

N. G. BASSETT. AXLE BOX FOR STREET ems.

Patented Mar. 22, i892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN C. BASSETT, OF LYNN MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

AXLE-BOX FOR STREET-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,089, dated March22, 1892.

Application filed October 27, 1890. Serial No. 369.442. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN C. BASSETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Journal-Boxes for Street-Cars,of which the following is a specification.

My invention, hereinafter described, relates to journal-boxes forstreet-cars, and comprises certain improvements, aiming, tirst, toprevent the entrance of dust from the wheel end of the box to theaxle-journal and oil-chamber; secondly, to positively lock thecheck-plate in its proper position with relation to the axle-journal,and, thirdly, to provide a dust-proof cover for the grease-opening atthe front end of the box, which may be removed with ease, and has nosharp corners or projecting parts to become caught when the car isrunning in a crowded street.

These improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a side view of the journal-box. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the same with the journal-brass and oiler shown in sideelevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the box, taken on line 00 onof Fig. 2, the journal and check-plate appearing in elevation.

Figs. 4 and 5 are end and side views of the locking-ring for holding thecheck-plate in place; and Fig. 6 is an end view of the journal-box,taken from the back or wheel end of the box.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the journal-box A is provided with the customaryvertical ribs A A, forming guideways for the pedestal-columns, and theaxle-journal B will be fitted with a journal-brass B and oiling device Bof any desired construction, as my invention does not relate to theseparts. The journal is grooved at C to form a stop-collar for taking theend-thrust of the axle, and in this groove is fitted a split check-plateD, open at its lower end and having straight sides, which pass betweenthe guide-ribs E E upon the journal-box, thereby holding the check-plateagainst transverse displacement. To prevent the accidental removal ofthe checkplate from its seat in the groove it is locked positively tothe journal itself, and as I am, SO far as known, the first to dothis,my claim upon this feature is intended to cover means specificallydifferent from that shown and now described. A locking-ring F, bored tofit the journal loosely, surrounds its outer end when in position, andhas a vertical bearing upon the check-plate through the projectingflange F, which overhangs a corresponding flange F upon the check-plate,as seen in Fig. 2. Lugs G upon the cover H press against the face of thering when the cover is on and keep it from slipping off the end of thejournal. When the cover is removed, the ring can be drawn to the left,so as to clear the journal, and then be lifted up out of the box, afterwhich the check-plate D may also be taken out through the same opening.

' The box-cover H is soshaped that its exterior is rounding and smooth,as shown, and the liability of its becoming caught is thereby lessened.Its upper edge fits dust-tight into a groove I upon the axle-box and isenlarged thereat sufficiently to allow a slight pivotal action, whileits sides have plane meeting surfaces, which overlap the edges of theopening in the box, as seen at H and effectively prevent the entrance ofdust to the oil-chamber. The cover is held in place by one or more boltsI, pivoted upon the outside of the journal-box, the inner ends of whichmay be 7 swung in between the arms of split lugs upon the cover, (seenat J,) and may be clamped thereto by screwing up the nuts K. One ofthese bolts is shown in Fig. 1, and another similar one will be placedon the other side of the cover. By screwing back the nuts a few turns itwill be seen that the bolts can be turned back on their pivots and thecover then be easily lifted out of place. At the back or wheel end ofthe journal-boxI have also provided-an arrangement for preventing theentrance of dust or grit to the journal and oilchamber. This consists ofa collar L of gunmetal, bored so as to allow the axle-journal t0 revolveeasily therein, and locked against rotation by the lug M, cast upon thejournalbox, which enters a slot M at the lower end of the ring. A flangeN, surrounding the collar, abuts against the side of a web 0 upon thejournal-box, making a tight fit. As an additional precaution against theentrance of dust, a packing-ring will also preferably be used, fittingthe collar snugly, and entering an annular recess left in thejournal-box between the web 0 and flange O. This packing-ring consistsof a body of felt P or equivalent soft compressible material, and toprevent it from spreading into openings in the axle-box an end disk ofsheet metal P is placed on either side of the felt. These parts are puttogether as follows: The packing-rin g is slipped into the journal-boxfrom the bottom and the collar passed through the ring. The whole isthen placed upon the end of the axle-journal. The felt makes a tightjoint with the exterior surface of the collar L, and being compressedkeeps the end plates tightly against the flange and web of thejournalbox. It will be noticed, also, that the collar L can play up anddown freely with reference to the box, the packing-rim g slipping up anddown in the recess provided for it. This allows the collar to follow themovements of the journal with such freedom that practically no weightcomes upon the bearing between the collar and journal, except that ofthe collar alone, and consequently the wear will be very small. The oilfrom the interior of the box will tend to work through between thejournal and collar, thus keeping them well lubricated, and washing awayany dust coming in from the opposite direction.

The weight of the car is borne on the top of the box A, which rests onthe rectangular projection B on the brass 13'. The end motion of Btoward the right, Fig. 2, is limited by two diagonal lugs B 13 (shownalso in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) while end motion toward the left islimited by the check-plate D. The brass B is provided with two ribs RR'one at each end-to allow B to be withdrawn from the box Aby means of ahook or rod inserted from the outside and placed over the rib R. Bothends of the brass B are preferably provided with the rib or projectionB, so that the brass may be placed in position in the box with eitherthe rib R or R to the left hand, Fig. 2. In order that the ribs R and Bmay be able to pass the lugs B 13 the corners R R are cut diagonally tocorrespond with the shape of the lugs B 13 Fig. 3.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1.The combination of the axle-journal and stop-collar with the check-plateand locking device for positively locking the check-plate to thejournal, as set forth.

2. The combination of the axle-journal and stop-collar with thecheck-plate and the ring surrounding the journal and locking thecheck-plate thereto, as described.

The combination of the axle-journal and stop-collar with the splitcheck-plate fitting over the journal and held against transversedisplacement by ribs upon the journal-box, and the locking-ringsurrounding the journal and having a vertical bearing upon saidcheck-plate, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the axle-journal and stop-collar with the splitcheck-plate fitted between vertical ribs on the journal-box and having aflange at its upper end, as F, the locking-ring surrounding the journaloutside of the check-plate and having a flange engaging the flange uponthe check-plate, and means for holding the ring upon the journal, asdescribed.

5. The combination of the axle-journal with I the check-plate andlock'ing-rin g upon the end of the journal held in place endwise bybearing against the cover of the journal-box, as described.

6. The combination of a journal-box and cover having one or more splitlugs on its outer side with a bolt or bolts pivoted to the box adjacentto the lugs and adapted to swing down between the arms of the lugs andbe secured thereto, as described.

'7. The combination, with the axlejournal, of the metal collar L aroundthe wheel end of the journal and provided with a slot, into which entersa lug upon the journal-box, whereby the collar is locked against rotary,but not vertical, movement, as described.

8. The combination, with the axle-journal and non-rotating collar makingadust-tight joint with the journal-box, of the packingring between saidcollar and box, composed of a body of felt or equivalent material, andmetal end disks, as described.

NORMAN (1. BASSETT.

\Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, JOHN W. GIBnoNnv.

